TEMECULA: Thousands expected for Heart Walk on Saturday

Family of Dalton Rode of Hemet, second from the left, poses at the 2013 Heart & Stroke Walk at Lake Skinner. Dalton, 3, had open heart surgery seven days after he was born to treat a congenital defect. COURTESY PHOTO

Thousands of area residents are expected to participate in the Temecula Heart & Stroke Walk at Lake Skinner this weekend, an annual event that raises more than $100,000┬ for the American Heart Association.

Included in that throng will be Dalton Rode of Hemet, a 3-year-old boy who was diagnosed in the womb with a congenital heart defect.

Seven days after he was born, doctors performed open heart surgery to fix his arteries. Two years later, Dalton was admitted to the hospital again to address a┬ narrowing around the pulmonary valve scare tissue area.

Doctors performed a second open heart operation on the lad. During recovery, he suffered a stroke that hindered use of his left arm and may have affected his speech.

Working with occupational and speech therapists, Dalton has grown into an "energetic" 3-year-old who loves trains and enjoys spending time with his two siblings.

The 3-mile walk is scheduled to start at 8:30 a.m. after an opening ceremony. In addition to the heart-healthy cardio exercise, the event includes a survivor lounge, a kids zone featuring interactive games and a performance by a local band.

Heart disease and stroke are the No. 1 and No. 4 killers in America, claiming more than 831,000 lives each year.┬ The American Heart Association aims to improve the cardiovascular health of all Americans by 20 percent while reducing deaths from cardiovascular disease and stroke by 20 percent by the year 2020. The Heart Walk brings communities together to help achieve this goal, raising funds for lifesaving cardiovascular research, community education and improvement of patient care.

Melissa Rode, Dalton's mom, said the family considers themselves┬ extremely blessed by the medical advances made so that they may today celebrate the life of their son/brother.

"His laughter is contagious and his love for trains is adorable.┬ We truly understand how important it is to share his story and give hope to others!" she said.

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